Completeness of the registration of VS varies across regions in The Netherlands. Incidence estimates obtained from regions with the highest rates are higher than those reported by previous studies.

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We report a case of a 75-year-old patient with hypopituitarism, bitemporal visual field deficits and a parasellar mass on pituitary MRI. During surgery, suspicion was raised that a non-functioning pituitary adenoma was accompanied by an abutting diaphragm sellae meningioma, which was confirmed at pathological examination. In retrospect, the initial MRI suggested two separate tumours on the basis of differing densities but this distinction was not seen on the last preoperative MRI.

HighlightsDSC/ASL-MRI can be acquired in growing VS with sufficient image quality.In most patients DSC and ASL techniques provide similar qualitative scores.These techniques can be of importance in future decision-making.

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Purpose Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery causes nasal morbidity and negatively affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Knowledge on actionable symptoms that could improve postoperative HRQoL is therefore important. This study assessed the impact of nasal symptoms on postoperative HRQoL. Methods This perioperative cohort study included 103 adult patients undergoing endoscopic pituitary adenoma resection (August 2016-December 2018), with measurements preoperatively, and 5 days, 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery. Nasal symptoms were measured with the Anterior Skull base nasal inventory-12, and HRQoL with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) physical (PCS) and mental component scores (MCS). Linear regression analysis was used to assess (1) determinants of postoperative nasal morbidity, (2) associations between number of symptoms or (3) individual symptoms and HRQoL, and (4) the percentage of variance of HRQoL explained by nasal symptoms. ResultsThe number of nasal symptoms transiently increased after surgery. No significant treatment-or disease-related determinants of nasal morbidity were identified. The number of nasal symptoms was significantly associated with a lower PCS (β = − 1.0; 95%CI − 1.5, − 0.4), but not with MCS at 6 weeks. Similar results were observed at 6 months. Headaches (42.2%), problems with smell (42.0%), and taste (36.0%) were the most prevalent symptoms, while sense of smell and taste, and nasal discharge showed the strongest associations with HRQoL. Conclusions Postoperative nasal symptoms, in particular problems with smell and taste, significantly affect pituitary patients' physical HRQoL. Monitoring of these symptoms may aid in determining which patients may benefit from intensified followup and treatment, aiming to optimize HRQoL.

Objective This study was aimed to determine the role of clinical presentation and tumor characteristics in vestibular schwannoma (VS) at diagnosis, initially treated with conservative management. Design The study was designed as a retrospective chart review. Setting The study was prepared at national tertiary referral center for VS patients. Participants A total of 836 VS patients, initially treated conservatively, were included. Main Outcome Measures Patient characteristics: age at diagnosis, gender, frequency, and duration of, hearing loss, tinnitus, balance disorder (unsteadiness, dizziness, and vertigo), respectively; and tumor characteristics: laterality, growth, cystic component, and location were analyzed in relation to tumor size at diagnosis and change in treatment strategy. Results In total, 169 (20%) patients had a change in treatment strategy. Factors at diagnosis that had a high influence on intervention were a short duration of hearing loss (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.8, p < 0.001) and cystic tumors (HR = 2.6, p < 0.001). Balance disorders and extracanalicular (EC) tumor location have a medium influence on intervention (HR = 1.6, p < 0.01). Tumour growth was seen in 55% of the intervention group; we found a significant correlation with a short duration of hearing loss. Cystic VS was significantly higher between the medium and large tumors, 24.3% and 38.1%. (p = 0.001), respectively. Conclusions Patients with a short duration of hearing loss, balance disorders, EC located tumors, and cystic tumors have a significantly higher chance of a change in treatment strategy. Large tumor size at diagnosis and a cystic component were related to age > 65 years at diagnosis.

Objective: To highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the combined translabyrinthine (TL) and classic retrosigmoid (RS) approach. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: National Tertiary Referral Center for skull base pathology. Participants: Twenty-two patients with very large cerebellopontine angle tumors were resected using the combined TL-RS approach. Main outcome measures: Preoperative patient characteristics, including age, sex, and hearing loss. Tumor characteristics, pathology, and size. Intraoperative outcome: Tumor removal. Postoperative outcomes included facial nerve function, residual tumor growth, and neurological deficits. Results: Thirteen patients had schwannoma, eight had meningioma, and one had both. The mean age was 47 years, mean tumor size was 39 × 32 × 35 mm (anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, craniocaudal), and mean follow-up period was 80 months. Tumor control was achieved in 13 patients (59%), and nine (41%) had residual tumor growth that required additional treatment. Seventeen patients (77%) had postoperative HouseBrackmann (HB) facial nerve function grade 12, one had HB grade 3, one HB V, and three HB VI. Conclusion: Combining TL and RS approach may be helpful in safely removing large meningiomas and schwannomas in selected cases. This valuable technique should be considered when sufficient exposure cannot be achieved with the TL or RS approach alone.